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Petra Cafe offers a fine selection of groceries to keep you strong, healthy, and active in Springfield.
Who's hungry? A frozen entree will fool anyone's palate, so why waste time cooking up a storm?
You can't beat the health benefits of fresh fish, so find a few you like and get to cooking!
When you are running low on kitchen staples, such as oil and vinegar, pick some up at Petra Cafe.
Loaded with essential vitamins and minerals, the produce from this store will give you the energy your body needs.
Cereal in the morning, cereal in the evening, or cereal at suppertime. With the selection here, you'll want to eat cereal anytime.
If you're a lover of all things dairy, help yourself to some great products at Petra Cafe for all your protein and calcium needs.
When you're looking to eat something delicious but have literally no time, you'll want to try the delicious frozen food here. It's a shortcut to perfectly scrumptious food.
When the heat gets the best of you, water is more important than ever. Cool off no matter where you are with a bottle from Petra Cafe.
Keep your energy and mood up all day long with a tasty coffee or refreshing tea from Petra Cafe.
For breads, cookies, cakes, and pies that will blow your mind, are couple extra sweet ingredients are kitchen must-haves.
If you're planning out your weekly meals, you will appreciate the assortment of snacks at Petra Cafe.
For an upgrade to your meals, you'll definitely want to test the fine meats for purchase here.
When you body needs hydration most, grab some drinks off the shelf.
Here you can find a wide range of great spices and seasonings to make your next dish more flavorful and creative.
Whether you prefer wheat or white bread, Petra Cafe serves up a large selection of freshly-baked breads.
At Petra Cafe, you can grab some fresh noodles, channel your inner chef and get your cook on.
Fill up your kitchen pantry with some tasty canned goods from here and always have a quick meal available.
The store frequently features a DJ, so patrons can treat their ears to some of the best beats around town. Those who enjoy dancing can make their mark on the open floor.
Parking can easily be found in the area.
So remember, when you pick up your groceries from Petra Cafe in Springfield, you're investing in the best quality and freshness.

Springfield Museums showcases a sculpture garden honoring Dr. Seuss (Theodor Seuss Geisel), who was raised in Springfield. All four buildings are centrally located around the scenic view of a quadrangle.
Michele & Donald D'Amour Museum of Fine Arts
Most nostalgic images: the Currier & Ives prints at the D'Amour Museum of Fine Arts, the only museum with a permanent gallery dedicated to their lithographs
Artists featured in the French Impressionist exhibit: Monet, Renoir, Degas, and Gauguin
The setting: The museum is housed in an Art Deco–style estate and opened in 1934
George Walter Vincent Smith Art Museum
Best way to try on armor without traveling back in time: the Asian-themed Art Discovery Center for kids
Why even the windows are masterpieces: Not all the museum's art is framed or behind velvet ropes; some of it is incorporated right into the building's design. The Tiffany Glass Company specially designed intricate windows for the museum, and they're the only museum-specific Tiffany windows to survive today.
Most unusual feature: The ashes of George Smith and his wife are interred on the second floor.
Springfield Science Museum
Two big scientific events of 1859: Springfield Museums received its first exhibit donations and Charles Darwin published The Origin of Species
Kids will love: the full-size T-rex replica in the dinosaur exhibit
The next best thing to being an astronaut: touching the outer-space rocks in Astronomy Hall
Lyman & Merrie Wood Museum of Springfield History
Founded: 2009—it's the newest of all the museums
What you'll see: items from Springfield in the 19th and 20th centuries, including a Rolls-Royces and Indian motorcycles manufactured in Springfield.
What you won't see: proof that this is the Springfield in The Simpsons
Museum within a museum: The exhibits of the Connecticut Valley Historical Museum have been moved here.

Property Location
With a stay at Hilton Garden Inn Springfield in Springfield, you'll be minutes from Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and Titanic Museum. This hotel is within close proximity of MassMutual Center and Dr. Seuss National Memorial.
Rooms
Make yourself at home in one of the 143 air-conditioned rooms featuring refrigerators and microwaves. Wired and wireless Internet access is complimentary, while video-game consoles and cable programming provide entertainment. Bathrooms feature shower/tub combinations, complimentary toiletries, and hair dryers. Conveniences include multi-line phones, as well as desks and complimentary weekday newspapers.
Rec, Spa, Premium Amenities
Be sure to enjoy recreational amenities including an indoor pool and a fitness facility. Additional features include complimentary wireless Internet access, an arcade/game room, and gift shops/newsstands.
Dining
Grab a bite at one of the hotel's 2 restaurants, or stay in and take advantage of room service (during limited hours). At the end of the day, relax with your favorite drink at a bar/lounge. Buffet breakfasts are available daily for a fee.
Business, Other Amenities
Featured amenities include a 24-hour business center, limo/town car service, and business services. Event facilities at this hotel consist of conference/meeting rooms, small meeting rooms, and a ballroom. Free self parking is available onsite.

Property Location
Sheraton Springfield Monarch Place Hotel is in the heart of Springfield, walking distance from MassMutual Center and Springfield Museums. This hotel is within close proximity of Quadrangle and Dr. Seuss National Memorial.
Rooms
Make yourself at home in one of the 325 air-conditioned rooms featuring high-definition televisions. Relax and take in city and river views from the privacy of your room. Wireless Internet access (surcharge) keeps you connected, and cable programming is available for your entertainment. Private bathrooms with shower/tub combinations feature designer toiletries and complimentary toiletries.
Rec, Spa, Premium Amenities
Enjoy a range of recreational amenities, including a health club, an indoor pool, and a sauna. This hotel also features wireless Internet access (surcharge), gift shops/newsstands, and wedding services.
Dining
Grab a bite at one of the hotel's 2 restaurants, or stay in and take advantage of room service (during limited hours). At the end of the day, relax with your favorite drink at a bar/lounge. Full breakfasts are available daily for a fee.
Business, Other Amenities
Featured amenities include a business center, a computer station, and business services. Event facilities at this hotel consist of a conference center, conference/meeting rooms, and small meeting rooms. Parking (subject to charges) is available onsite.

Property Location
A stay at La Quinta Inn & Suites Springfield places you in the heart of Springfield, convenient to Quadrangle and Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. This hotel is within close proximity of MassMutual Center and Dr. Seuss National Memorial.
Rooms
Make yourself at home in one of the 208 air-conditioned rooms featuring refrigerators and flat-screen televisions. Complimentary wired and wireless Internet access keeps you connected, and cable programming provides entertainment. Bathrooms have shower/tub combinations and hair dryers. Conveniences include desks and complimentary newspapers, as well as phones with voice mail.
Rec, Spa, Premium Amenities
DonÃât miss out on recreational opportunities including an indoor pool and a fitness facility. Additional features include complimentary wireless Internet access, an arcade/game room, and a television in the lobby.
Dining
A complimentary breakfast is included.
Business, Other Amenities
Featured amenities include complimentary high-speed (wired) Internet access, a 24-hour business center, and audiovisual equipment. Event facilities at this hotel consist of conference/meeting rooms, small meeting rooms, and banquet facilities. Free self parking is available onsite.

Celebrating more than 100 years of basketball history, the halls and exhibits of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame honor the players, coaches, referees, and others who helped the game grow to an internationally beloved sport. There are shrines dedicated to more than 300 Hall of Famers, and the 40,000-square-foot basketball megaplex also houses more than 70 interactive exhibits with audio and video components, limited-run tributes to standout teams and players, and special events. The Hall of Fame provides an outlet for freshly inspired visitors to emulate the giants of the sport: a full-size center court, where they can practice alley-oops and half-court slam dunks or attend clinics taught by players and coaches. On the way back to the car, many guests pause for a photograph next to the towering silver sphere that punctuates the buildings' exterior.
Named for James A. Naismith, the inventor of the sport, the Hall of Fame stands just "a midrange jump shot" from the site of the original game. Played on December 21, 1891, the first contest tallied a final score of one basket to zero, prompting Dr. Naismith to remove the bee's nests from the backboards.

Groupon Guide

Summer music festivals tend to attract people from all walks of life—including some you probably didn’t even know existed. By now, tried-and-true categories like “hipster” and “jock” have branched off into a thousand subdivisions, and it can be fun to see how many you can spot at the next festival you attend. To help you out, we braved Pitchfork Music Festival for the *sole purpose* of compiling this list of 10 people we can’t seem to avoid at summer music festivals. For better or worse.The Guy Who Stole Your Grandma’s CameraThe first digital cameras hit the consumer market in the late 1990s, or right around the time this guy was born. He must have missed the memo. To this guy, a camera is as much a fashion accessory as a means of image reproduction, but we can’t be too hard on him. For starters, he’s being eco-friendly by recycling grandma’s old Nikon, and there’s no denying the old workhorse looks good in that new leather case.The Guy Who Artfully Photographs MudA close relative of the abovementioned camera guy, this guy sees beauty where others see only dirt. In this case, the equipment matters less than the man. And who is that man, exactly? He is an artist. He is a sensitive intellectual. He is the proud new owner of some seriously mud-caked shoes.The Couple That Sleeps Through Every SetFor some people, summer music festivals are a source of endless anxiety. They fret about things like lining up the perfect schedule, finding a bathroom that’s halfway usable, and navigating their way through a sweaty mass of humanity. Not this couple, though. This couple could teach a master’s seminar in how to chill, which they’d hold on the green lawn toward the back of the crowd. But first they have to wake up.The Guy Who Won’t Put His #%$! Phone AwayIs there anything more annoying than the guy or gal who drops $300 on festival tickets and proceeds to spend the entire day texting away, completely oblivious to the live music right in front of them? This is why millennials get a bad rap. If you don’t believe us, ask the guys who actually work at concert venues.The Guy with the Statement ShirtYou’ll probably run into several thousand strangers at a given music festival, and there’s no way you’ll have the time to school them all on the finer points of life’s philosophy. This guy knows that, which is why he’s come prepared with a shirt that says all he needs to say, to whomever cares to read his chest. You might not agree with him all the time, but one thing is certain: every time he opens his wardrobe, the world is never quite the same.The Guy with No Shirt (But Lots of Hair)Why does this guy always end up next to you in the crowd? Why is he always the sweatiest and the hairiest? It’s not even about looks—T-shirts soak up a lot of moisture, and without one this guy’s skin transforms into a furry slip’n’slide. Oh, well. At least he seems fun to hang out with.The Flower ChildrenIn another, decidedly less hip life, these girls might have found their calling as botanists. Here, however, they’re doing the best they can to revive the Summer of Love. Some might find this trend insufferable, but there’s something to be said for the preponderance of flowers and flower prints at outdoor festivals. If you’re going to be in nature, you might as well be one with nature. Just try to ignore all that garbage on the ground.
The Guy Who’s Over ItIt’s hot out. There are too many people. The beer is warm and the band is out of tune. There are plenty of reasons why a music festival can go wrong in a hurry, and this guy bears the weight of knowing them all. His look says “What am I doing here?,” and we don’t have the answer. Nobody has the answer. You should go home and take a nap, guy. You’ve earned it.
The Girl Who’s Way More Prepared Than YouLook at that condescending smile. It’s a smile that says, “Sure, I remembered my poncho. Did you really think it wasn’t going to rain?” It says, “I can’t see your squinting eyes through my UV-protection sunglasses.” She probably even has some toilet-seat covers stowed away somewhere in that tote. To be fair, though, it isn’t her fault you chose flip-flops over boots.
The Wandering ChildWhose child is this? Check your pockets. Is somebody missing a child?Photos: Jeremey Watson and Grant WalshThe Fans and Artists Who Are Nailing This Festival-Fashion Thing

With no gears, shifters, or even brakes, fixed-gear bicycles (“fixies” in common parlance) are bikes at their most basic. Riding fixed-gear bikes can be both rewarding and practical, though you’ll have to get used to being without some of the comforts that normally come standard on road and mountain bikes. To help you figure out if a fixie might be right for you, we spoke with Luis Iñiguez and Lesley Tweedie of Chicago’s Kozy’s Cyclery and Roscoe Village Bikes, respectively. These two seasoned pros explained some of the benefits and drawbacks of riding fixed-gear bikes. Spoiler alert: they’re not just for hipsters.Riding ExperiencePRO: Fixies are arguably the “purest” form of bike out there. No gears or shifters means a simple, no-nonsense riding style. Pedal forward to go forward; pedal backward to slow down or go in reverse. This engaged riding experience is part of what makes fixies so unique. As Tweedie puts it, fixies help riders “feel at one with the bike” and achieve a better sense of control. CON: Mastering a fixie takes time and patience. Iñiguez and Tweedie have the same advice for anyone looking to start riding a fixed-gear bike: practice, practice, practice. Getting used to starting and stopping without the comforts of shifting and braking takes time, especially in an urban riding environment. “For city riding, it’s definitely something to get used to,” Iñiguez says. If you’re just starting to get comfortable with riding a bike, adds Tweedie, “fixed might not be your best option.”FitnessPRO: You’re constantly moving and using your muscles. Since riders need to start and stop their momentum without the gradual, easy buildup afforded by a set of gears, pedaling a fixie can quickly turn into a challenging lower-body workout. “It forces you to spin the whole time you’re riding,” Tweedie explains. CON: There are better options out there. If you’re looking to use your bike solely for fitness, Tweedie suggests looking beyond fixies. “I wouldn’t recommend fixed [if your goal is getting in shape],” she says. Instead, she recommends something like a hybrid road/mountain bike, which can better handle hills and longer rides.TerrainPRO: For flatland commuters, fixies get you there quickly. If you plan on using your bike for short trips or commutes in mostly flatland areas, a fixie can be great. Its light weight means that it can build some serious speed—fixies have roots in track racing, after all. “Lots of messengers ride fixed-gears,” Tweedie notes, though she stresses the importance of practicing on a fixie before taking it to the street. CON: Hills can be tough to power through. “There are no gears, so the kind of terrain you can ride on is more limited,” Tweedie says of fixies’ versatility. “You need to be strong to go uphill,” Iñiguez adds, so if you know your commute is a hilly one, a fixie might not be for you.MaintenancePRO: Fewer parts means there’s less to fix. Since a fixie lacks the moving parts typically found on other bikes, there’s naturally less to repair. “It’s a low-maintenance type of bike,” Iñiguez says. That minimal upkeep is what compels some riders to swear by fixies. CON: You’ll have to keep an eye on your chain and wheels. Fixie riders should, however, keep an eye on a few potential trouble areas. The bikes’ lack of derailleurs, specifically, can lead to issues with their chains. “Derailleurs help maintain chain tension … there’s nothing to maintain [chain tension] on a fixed gear,” Tweedie explains, adding that without the derailleurs, a fixie’s chain is susceptible to going slack. A fixie’s wheels can undergo a good amount of strain, too. “There’s lots of torque on a fixed rear wheel,” Tweedie adds, noting that all that manual slowing and braking can put a lot of stress on the back wheel. In any case, as long as you’re diligent about maintaining your bike, it shouldn’t be too much of a problem.Now, ride on and prosper.Photo: Damon’s new ride by Stephanie Sicore under CC BY 2.0.

While the rest of the United States is still trying to determine the difference between alligators and crocodiles, Gulf Coast residents figured it out long ago: alligators are delicious. So tasty that their meat is commonplace in the region’s grocery stores and restaurants.
It also doesn’t hurt that the New Orleans archbishop categorizes the water-dwelling reptiles as seafood, adding a new ingredient to Lent’s Friday dinners.
Despite their popularity along the Gulf Coast, alligator dishes haven’t caught on in other parts of the country. At least not yet, said Mark Palicki, vice president of marketing for restaurant supplier Fortune Fish & Gourmet in Bensenville, IL. With whole-animal consumption and eco-friendly meats taking center stage as of late, alligator is poised to make its grand entrance. All it will take is one high-profile chef to focus on alligator, he said. “Then, other chefs will follow in abundance.”
So what’s the appeal of alligator meat?
A Familiar Flavor“Tastes like chicken” may be a cliché, but in the case of alligator meat, it’s pretty accurate. Some describe it as a brinier version of chicken, while others say it’s similar to pork. Mark said alligator’s flavor is akin to both meats but with a slightly tougher texture.
Low in Fat, High in ProteinAlligator’s flavor mimics chicken, but the meat’s nutritional content does not. Alligator is filled with significantly more protein than chicken and has less fat, Mark said. Plus, alligator’s fat is wrapped around its meat, making it easy to remove before cooking.
Culinary CreativityThe most common alligator dishes feature the meat breaded and fried into nuggets or ground into sausage. However, alligator meat can be used in most chicken recipes, whether that’s in the form of cutlets, nuggets, stews, or Mark’s favorite—kebabs. And don’t be afraid to use the reptile in its entirety. The most tender sections of alligators are the tail loins and jowls, but as long as the meat is properly tenderized, any cut can be used.
Alligator at Its BestIf Mark’s suggestions aren’t enough, there are plenty of alligator dishes at restaurants across the country to serve as inspiration.
New Orleans flavors fill the menu at Henry’s Louisiana Grill in Acworth, GA, with dishes such as hot-chili gator and alligator-tail po’ boys.For “real Nawlins food,” hit up New Orleans’ Jacques-Imo’s Cafe, whose self-proclaimed “lousy food” includes a savory shrimp and alligator-sausage cheesecake.Known for its exotic meats, Chicago’s Frontier serves fried alligator legs in a cayenne-maple reduction, gator scallopini, and even a whole roasted alligator stuffed with chicken.The chefs at Philadelphia’s Pattaya Grill award adventurous eaters with obscure Thai dishes, such as alligator stir-fry.The owner’s Yucatan background is evident throughout the offerings at Gilberth’s Rotisserie & Grill in San Francisco, including the tacos de lagarto, made with grilled alligator, fresh avocado, and two kinds of salsa.Check out some related reads:The Best Places to Eat a Whole AnimalFrom suckling pig to roasted alligator, these restaurants offer some of the nation’s best nose-to-tail dishes.The Spectacle and the Savagery of Roasted PigOnce exclusively reserved for luaus and Shriners’ summer picnics, pig roasts are now entering the fine-dining arena. We take a look at the experience from the point of view of the chefs who prepare the roasted pigs and the diners who dig in.